Salford has 126 new coronavirus cases, up from the previous day's 125, bringing the cumulative total to 19,280. The seven day average of cases has decreased to 898, down from 918, while the seven day rate per 100,000 population stands at 346.9, down from 354.7.
Elsewhere in Greater Manchester, the seven day average of cases in Bury is 605 (down from 634), with a seven day rate per 100,000 population of 316.8 (down from 332); Bolton 955 (down from 971), with a rate of 332.1 (down from 337.7); Manchester 1,974 (down from 2,035), with a rate of 357.1 (down from 368.1); and Oldham 613 (up from 600), with a rate of 258.5 (up from 253).
Rochdale has a seven day average of cases of 682 (down from 715), with a seven day rate of 306.6 (down from 321.5); Stockport 866 (down from 883), with a rate of 295.1 (down from 300.9); Tameside 710 (down from 711), with a rate of 313.5 (down from 313.9); Trafford 710 (down from 719), with a rate of 299.1 (down from 302.9); and Wigan 1,092 (down from 1,132), with a rate of 332.3 (down from 344.4).
There have been five new virus-related deaths at Salford Royal Hospital, making a tragic total of 15 deaths so far this week (see previous article for more information and details of GM Remembers – click here).
Meanwhile, at yesterday's Greater Manchester Leaders' press conference, GM Mayor Andy Burnham relayed a statement from Tameside's public health director that 70% of current positive cases are related to the new coronavirus strain, which is now the dominant strain in Greater Manchester.
While there have been what he called "significant improvements" in the rates of infection, the numbers are still high and the national lockdown has not seen a decisive fall in infections but rather a slow decrease, as admissions to hospitals continue to rise.
Weekly admission to Greater Manchester hospitals increased from 236 on 18th January, to 382 on the 25th, although in-patient diagnosis dropped from 736 to 617 during the same period.
The number of intensive care, or ICU, patients increased from 157 on 19th January to 165 on the 26th, while the total number of COVID patients in hospitals increased from 1081 to 1133 over the same period. Burnham noted that one in four patients in Greater Manchester hospitals are now COVID patients.
He expects the peak pressure on the NHS to be this weekend, and praised the 'awesome' staff who are under "intense pressure". Meanwhile the percentage of care home residents who either have COVID-19 or its symptoms has risen from 1.9% on 12th January, to 2.6% on the 26th.
While health staff struggle to cope with the ongoing crisis, GM Deputy Mayor, Beverley Hughes, detailed 1,427 COVID breaches over the last week, including 788 house parties "which continue to be the biggest source of contraventions". Over that period, 220 Fixed Penalty Notices have been issued, including 180 at the weekend.
She highlighted an illegal car cruise event near the AJ Bell Stadium where an attending police officer was hit by a car, and Salford University where two students were evicted for a breach of regulations.
As of 26th January, there had been 309,469 doses of the vaccine given in Greater Manchester, running at around 100,000 jabs per week, but on reports that vaccine coming into the North West is about to be reduced in early February, Andy Burnham said that he has been reassured that the region will receive enough to hit the mid-February target of vaccinating the top priority groups.
He does, however, remain "a little concerned" because there isn't transparency about the number of vaccines supplied to Greater Manchester and the lack of flexibility within the system to move vaccine around to meet demand with the available supply.
He didn't know how much leftover vaccine had been wasted, as staff are not allowed to use it on 'friends and family' or other groups, but guessed at a small percentage and added that it was an issue that the Government needs to relax... "Because the rules are quite inflexible it takes away the room for manoeuvre" he said "I would want to make an appeal for more flexibility in the use of the vaccine..."
The GM Mayor also backed Labour Party Leader, Keir Starmer's call for teachers and support staff to be vaccinated before the potential re-opening of schools on 8th March, adding that police officers and supermarket workers should also be in that cohort.
Burnham concluded that while Greater Manchester continues to make good progress on cases and a strong showing on vaccinations "the National Health service is under pressure to an extent that we've never seen before in living memory".
He slammed "that persistent, significant, recalcitrant minority of people who are continuing to put unacceptable pressure on Greater Manchester Police but particularly on the front line of our health service, and the truth of the matter is that there are more younger people in hospital now than there were in the first wave...and there is way too much mixing going on in the younger age groups...
"This is a critical moment" he concluded "And they need to listen to the messages. They need to recognise that of the 100,000 deaths we have seen, half of those have been in the last few weeks, and that should bring home to people the danger of the situation we are in and the danger to everybody. I just hope and ask people to listen to the messages, we are in the most dangerous moment of this pandemic...please respect the NHS..."
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